Dr RP Sharma appointed new DGP of Odisha Police

Senior IPS officer Dr RP Sharma appointed as the new DGP of Odisha Police replacing KB Singh, who was shifted to the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation as its chairman-cum-managing director.

“Prevention of crime will be my first priority, and strict action will be taken against organised crime networks. Women’s safety will be another major thrust area, and I will try my best to make police public friendly,” said Sharma, after his appointment as the new DGP.

Odisha’s newly appointed Director General of Police (DGP) Dr Rajendra Prasad Sharma today took over the charge from departing DGP KB Singh at the state police headquarters. Soon after he officially took the charge of DGP, he was given a guard of honour at the police headquarters.

A 1986 batch IPS officer, Dr RP Sharma was elevated to DG rank and appointed as Director of State Vigilance in January 2016. Before that, he served as the Commissioner of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack police commissionerate. He served as SP in Kalahandi, Berhampur, Dhenkanal and Balasore between 1990 and 2001. He also served as DIG in Crime Branch and Central Range.

He had held prestigious positions with National Security Guard (NSG) while on central deputation in 2004. He had also served with the UN in its Support Mission at Haiti as well as the drug administration.

A native of Rajasthan, Sharma is a doctor by qualification and has held a law degree before being an IPS.